Card holding receptacle



Nov. Z6, 1963 P. HoPP ETAL CARD HOLDING RECEPTACLE l s sheets-sheet 1 Filed July 19, 1961 DAN/'0km manzo JR Nov. 26, 1963 P. HoPP ETAL. 3,112,142

CARD HOLDING RECEPTACLE Filed July 19, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 23) 36) j? Y 25 s x C gg?? 26 @Ui 36 f l V l l' /5 p20 I I gf/ 2" F/as /5 mfp Mmo Roer/vr ,vws/6N DAM-afm Amazon fil, uw' @AM/M Nov. 26, 1963 P. HoPP ETAL. 3,112,142

CARD HOLDING RECEPTACLE Filed July 19. 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Q ww Fw United States Patent 3,112,142 CARD HOLDING RECEP'IACLE Philip Hopp, New York, and Robert H. Ensign, Bronxville, N.Y., and Danforth Cardozo, Jr., Weston, Conn., assignors to The Hopp Press, Inc., New York, NSY., a corporation of New York Filed July 19, 1961, Ser. No. 125,159 Claims. (Cl. S12-50) This invention relates to a structurally and functionally improved card holding receptacle, especially intended for use by pricing clerks and similar employees of establishments such as supermarkets whereby cards to be applied to retaining moldings may be properly stored and be readily available for distribution.

It is a primary object of the invention to furnish a receptacle which may readily be employed by a relatively inexperienced person without danger of cards of certain values in designated compartments of the receptacle becoming intermingled with cards of different values disposed in other compartments.

An additional object is that of furnishing a unit of this type from which cards may be readily dispensed so as to be quickly applied to desired display locations for designating prices and supplying similar information with respect lto the merchandise available at those location-s.

Among other objects of the invention are those of furnishing a receptacle which will be pleasing in appearance and capable of economical manufacture.

With these and other objects in mind, reference is had to the attached sheet of drawings illustrating practical embodiments of the invention in which:

FIG. l is a fragmentary perspective of the upper portion of a receptacle and showing the same associated with the belt of the wearer;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a complete assembly;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation thereof;

FIG. 4 is an end view of the receptacle;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are transverse sectional views taken along the lines 5 5 and 6 6, respectively, in the direction of the arrows as indicarted in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional side view taken along the lines 7 7 in the direction of the arrows as also indicated in FIG. 2;

FIGS. 8 and 9 lare further transverse sectional views taken respectively along the lines 8 8 and 9 9 in the direction of the arrows as indicated in lFIG. 2;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an alternative form of structure;

FIG. 1l is a transverse sectional View in enlarged scale olf that structure taken along the line Il ll of FIG. l0 and in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary sectional side view of a part of the receptacle as shown in FIG. l0.

Referring primarily to FIGS. 2 and 3, it will be seen that a receptacle is shown which includes a base '15 from which side walls extend upwardly. 'Ihese side walls are preferably in the form of legs or strips L16 spaced from each other and except for a central portion, such as :17, being spaced from the upper face of base `15 so that slits 19 are defined adjacent the base and lower edges of these strips. The slits have a height such that a card may be shifted laterally therethrough.

Having in mind that it is preferred to include in the ICC receptacle two rows of card-receiving compartments, there extends upwardly from the base 1=5 a longitudinal or central wall Ztl. `Transverse walls 21 also extend upwardly from the base and are attached to the inner faces of strip-s I6 providing lthe side wall. As will be app-arent, the lower outer edge zones of walls 21 conveniently provide portions 17. Thus a pair of transverse walls 21, the intervening area of central wall or partition 20 and parts of a pair of adjacent strips 16 furnish one card-receiving compartment. At points between such a pair of transverse walls 21 openings, such as notches 22 are formed in the base. A cover 223 is slideably supported upon the side walls adjacent the upper ends of the latter. This cover is also formed with openings which as indicated at M again preferably take the form of notches extending inwardly from its side edges. Those notches, as especially shown in yFIG. 2, preferably flare in an outward direction. The same contour is conveniently included in the outlines of notches 22.

With a view to slideably supporting the cover and as shown to particular advantage in FIG. 5, the outer side edge lzones of the latter are extended downwardly at 25 and inward-ly as at 26. The adjacent ends of the side wall strip .16 extend outwardly as at 27, so that with the parts in proper positions an overlapping and Ibearing relationship .is established which will retain the cove-r against detachment from the side walls. Cards within the compartments will have lengths such that they will extend from one to another transverse wall 21. The areas of the notches 22 and 24 will, therefore, not be such that ythe cards will be free to drop out. However, -by deliberately sliding the cover in a rearward direction (downwardly, as viewed in FIG. 2) to the position indicated in dash lines, the overlapping relationship between parts 25 to 27 will no longer maintain. Accordingly, the cover may be lifted from the receptacle so as to alford access to the compartments for the insertion of cards into the same or for the removal of an entire stack from one of them.

With a view to limiting movements of the cover with respect to the body of the receptacle a stop structure is provided. This is shown to best advantage in F-IG. 7, in which a preferably thickened end wall 28 for the receptacle has been illustrated. This wall presents in its upper surface a socket 29. Between this socket and the inner face of that wall a groove `30 is provided. {Interposed between socket 29 and the outer face of wall 28 -is a relatively raised portion 3l. The cover is provided with a boss 32 extending downwardly from its inner face and adjacent its end. IIt is apparent that as the cover is shifted to the right (-FIG. 7) boss 32 will ride within groove 30, under which circumstances a slight flexing of this zone ofthe cover will occur. As the boss aligns with the opening or socket 29, it will extend into the same. Accordingly, a detent structure is furnished which prevents an accidental shifting of the cover to the left with respect to the receptacle body. When the boss is thus aligned, if an attempt is made to shift the .cover further to the right the provision of the end wall or raised portion 31 will prevent such movement.

Shifting of the cover to the left and beyond the position indicated in dash lines in FIG. 7 is prevented by conveniently employing a tiexihle element such as a link member 33 which as in FIGS, 1 to 3 has one of its ends attached to the upper face of the cover and its opposite end attached to an extension 34 of the receptacle. The length of this element is such that it restricts movement of the cover to the left. Also, as shown in FIG. 1, the belt of the user may be passed into the space between element 33 and the assembly so that the holder need not be supported by the hands. Conveniently, a suction cup 35 will be mounted by extension 34; hence the operator will have available as part of the assembly a tool which will serve to remove cards flexed into engagement with and retained by moldings.

In order to properly guide the cover in its movements, it is preferred that its underface be longitudinally grooved as indicated at 36 to receive the upper edge zone of the longitudinally extending central ywall 20. Also to prevent a migration of iany card 37 Ifrom one compartment to another it is preferred to thicken the cover, as indicated at 38, to provide longitudinally extending ribs which will slideably bear against the upper lfaces of the stack of cards in the several compartments. If the ribs be deeper than shown in FIGS. and 6, then the transverse walls or partitions 21 may present correspondingly deeper notches as indicated at 39 in FIG. 5. In any event, with notches present the outer side edges of the ribs will slidably bear against edge portions of the transverse partitions 21 so that an additional guiding structure is furnished.

As will be understood, in a set of price or similar cards, elements of different sizes are usually involved. In all instances, it is desired that a single holder or receptacle be employed and that the stacks of cards -within the compartments be snugly accommodated. To this end, and as shown in FIGS. 6 Iand 9, iiller blocks or inserts 40 may be employed within those compartments which receive cards which are narrower than others. As shown in these figures, those blocks or strips may bear against one face of the longitudinal central |wall 20. As hereinafter described, they may also straddle the `wall.

Thus, as shown in the alternative structure, illustrated in FIGS. -13, the receptacle may again include a body embracing a base 41 from `which side walls 42 in the form of legs extend upwardly. The lower ends of these 'are spaced from the upper face of the base, except at the points of connection 43, to thus furnish slits through which cards may be moved outwardly from the receptacle. A central longitudinally extending wall or partition 44 rises from base 41 to divide the receptacle into two rows of compartments. A series of transverse paritions 45 extend between the strips 42 defining the side walls and the central partition 44. -These transverse walls may-as afore brought out-embrace notches 46 adjacent their inner edges. The same structure may be included in the end walls of the receptacle.

A cover 47 is provided which, in common with the previously described cover, is furnished with a central groove 48 in its inner face to receive the upper edge zone of the longitudinal wall 44. Also, it is conveniently provided with downwardly extending ribs `49 riding within notches 46. The upper ends of the side walls 42 include outwardly extending portions 50. These are overlapped by corresponding portions 51 formed in the cover `and which extend below portions 50 to slidably retain that cover against removal from the receptacle.

The base 41 of the latter is formed with notches 57 corresponding to notches 22 as heretofore described. However, the cover does not include notches such as 24. It is apparent that with such a structure a migration of cards from one compartment to another is prevented. Also, it is apparent that with the receptacle lfacing in 1an upward direction the stacks of cards will rest against the portions of the base 41 which extend into the areas `of the compartments. So supported, they may be readily withdrawn through the slits between the lower edges of strips 42 and base 41.

To limit sliding lmovement of the cover with respect to the receptacle body, beveled tongues 53 extend laterally `from ribs 49 and ride within the notches 46 of the transverse walls. These tongues are separated a distance such that when the lid is moved to the right, as in FIGS. 10 and 12, the left-hand tongue will engage against the surface `adjacent a notch in a central transverse wall 54 of series 45, so that further movement of the cover is arrested. However, it will be understood that the notches of wall 54 will be of sufficient area to accommodate ribs 49 for sliding movement, but not of sui'licient area to permit passage of the tongues 53. In any event, `with the cover shifted to the position shown the forward three pairs of compartments `are exposed so they may receive stacks of cards. When now the cover is shifted to its opposite extreme position, the second tongue S3 will bear against the surface of transverse wall 54. Under these circumstances, the `upper faces of the rear three pairs of compartments will be exposed for loading cards therein.

'Iihe cover iwill be mounted upon the receptacle at the factory. Once it is so mounted, it may not be detached from the receptacle. Again in this `form of the assembly, spacer elements are preferably provided so that the stacks of cards will be snugly and properly accommodated within the compartments even if the cards be of narrow width. To this end, the longitudinal central wall may be notched within the 'area of a pair of compartments, as indicated in 55. A spacer member may in this instance include a block embracing a U-shaped strip of polyurethane -foarn provided with pressure-sensitive backing. This strip has been indicated at 56 fand its within notch `57 to straddle the central wall 44. The strip will be of such thickness as to absorb any tolerance in the pocket or compartment and thus Wedge the cards in place so that they ywill not up end -When the unit is inverted.

Thus, among others, the several objects of the invention as specifically aforenoted are achieved. Obviously, numerous changes in construction and rearrangement of the parts may be resorted to ywithout departing from the spirit of the invention as deiined by the claims.

What We claim is:

l. A card holder including in combination a base, side and transverse walls extending upwardly therefrom to provide a receptacle divided into a row of card receiving compartments, zones of the side walls defining said compartments being each `formed with slits in advance and to the rear of certain of said transverse walls at points adjacent said base for the lateral displacement of cards beyond said side walls, a cover movably connected to said side Iwalls at points remote from said base, said side walls comprising spaced strips extending upwardly from said base, guiding means carried by said cover and the upper end of said strips and cooperating to slidably retain said cover mounted upon said side walls to thus provide said movable connection and the openings of said cover embracing notches extending inwardly from its side edges.

2. A card holder including in combination a base, side and transverse walls extending upwardly therefrom to provide a receptacle divided into card-receiving compartments of equal area, zones of said side iwalls being formed with slits in advance and to the rear of said transverse walls at points adjacent said base for the lateral displacement of cards beyond said side walls, a cover movably connected to said side walls at points remote from said base, a central longitudinal wall extending upwardly from said base to provide rows of compartments to each side of said central wall, area-reducing means detachably coupled with said receptacle and extending into one of said compartments to reduce the effective area thereof comprising a iiller block straddling said central wall and `the latter being formed with a notch accommodating a part of said block.

3. In a card holder as dened in claim 2, said base being `formed with notches and said notches being disposed between said transverse Walls.

4. In fa card holder 'as dened in claim 3, a cover mounted by said side wa11s and said cover being a1so formed `with notches in line with seid compartment.

5. 1n a card holder as dened in claim l, and flexible means connected to said cover to restrain movement of the latter in an opposite direction.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Renfro Feb. 1, Schncr Peb. 22, Hopp Aug. 29, Warmath Oct. 8, Jenkins Nov. 5,

Hofland Afug. `9', 

1. A CARD HOLDER INCLUDING IN COMBINATION A BASE, SIDE AND TRANSVERSE WALLS EXTENDING UPWARDLY THEREFROM TO PROVIDE A RECEPTACLE DIVIDED INTO A ROW OF CARD RECEIVING COMPARTMENTS, ZONES OF THE SIDE WALLS DEFINING SAID COMPARTMENTS BEING EACH FORMED WITH SLITS IN ADVANCE AND TO THE REAR OF CERTAIN OF SAID TRANSVERSE WALLS AT POINTS ADJACENT SAID BASE FOR THE LATERAL DISPLACEMENT OF CARDS BEYOND SAID SIDE WALLS, A COVER MOVABLY CONNECTED TO SAID SIDE WALLS AT POINTS REMOTE FROM SAID BASE, SAID SIDE WALLS COMPRISING SPACED STRIPS EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM SAID BASE, GUIDING MEANS CARRIED BY SAID COVER AND THE UPPER END OF SAID STRIPS AND COOPERATING TO SLIDABLY RETAIN SAID COVER MOUNTED UPON SAID SIDE WALLS TO THUS PROVIDE SAID MOVABLE CONNECTION AND THE OPENINGS OF 